resilience & protective factors
We study resilience and the protective effects of cultural identity and engagement
Positive experiences and healthy coping strategies can counteract the negative impact of stress on our health and well-being. Social support and a connection to nature have been identified as sources of resilience for Indigenous people, aligning with Indigenous views that link physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being to the land and environment. Some of our research focuses on how various aspects of cultural identity and engagement are associated with health and well-being in Indigenous populations and might serve as protective factors against the negative effects of stress and trauma. Connecting with one’s culture through learning ancestral languages, engaging in traditional practices, participating in ceremonies, creating art, and preparing traditional food can build resilience in Indigenous individuals and communities empowering them to thrive. These cultural connections are strengthened when shared with family, elders, and community members.
Research on strength and resilience aids Indigenous communities and organizations in advocating for health programs that align with their cultural knowledge. This type of research reinforces the importance of what Indigenous communities already know about promoting well-being and allows them to strengthen their bonds and identities while seeking support for health initiatives.
To find out how our research is beginning to assess how biological factors might be involved in the transmission of effects of residential schools or the child welfare system across generations, please click here.
To find out how the consequences of numerous harmful past and ongoing aspects of settler colonialism in Canada are contributing to health and social inequities relative to the non-Indigenous population in Canada, please click here.
To find out how our research has been used in various ways to benefit Indigenous peoples, including by providing evidence of the continued direct and intergenerational effects of the residential school system and the child welfare system so that Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples can have a shared understanding of the legacy of colonialism in Canada, please click here.
To find out how we are examining the current landscape of Indigenous education curriculums in Canada and exploring best practices for educators and academics conducting Indigenous health research please click here.
Multimedia
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Intergenerational trauma and resiliency on health and wellness of First Nations peoples in Canada
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Resilience in First Nations Communities
Recent Publications
about resilience & protective factors
2024
Burack, J.A., Bombay, A., & Kirmayer, L.J. (2024). Cultural Continuity, Identity, and Resilience Among Indigenous Youth: Honoring the Legacies of Michael Chandler and Christopher Lalonde. Transcultural Psychiatry, 61(3):301-312.
2023
Hahmann, T., Perri, A., Masoud, H., & Bombay, A. (2023). Parent and/or grandparent attendance at Residential School and culture-related factors: Associations with mental health and substance use among First Nations adults living off-reserve. Social Science and Medicine, 13(1).
2022
Paul, J., McQuaid, R.J, Hopkins, C., Perri, A., Stewart, S., Matheson, K., Anisman, H., Bombay, A. (2022). Relations between bullying and distress among youth living in First Nations communities: Assessing direct and moderating effects of culture-related variables. Transcultural Psychiatry.
2020
Matheson, K., Bombay, A., Dixon, K., & Anisman, H. (2020). Intergenerational communication regarding Indian Residential Schools: Implications for cultural identity, perceived discrimination, and depressive symptoms. Transcultural Psychiatry, 57, 304-320.
2018
Matheson, K., Bombay, A., & Anisman, H. (2018). Culture as an ingredient of personalized medicine. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN, 43(1), 3–6.